The Sevan Writers House is a true icon of the avant-grade dreams of the 20th century and the exploration of Soviet modernist architecture. Designed by Kochar (after his rehabilitation in Siberia by Stalin’s orders) the structure features a wide and curved glass and concrete volume is cantilevered right out above the rocks. Silent but present, the building overlooks the lake and contrasts with the irregular shapes of the waves, leaving the history of the island and the churches behind. The whole construction balanced on one thick concrete leg, but maintains timeless on its simplicity. Located on the island of the Lake Sevan, this space has welcomed many authors and figures, such as Simone de Beauvoir and Sartre.

The nature and the wind have slowly but deeply caressed the genuine concrete. Memories of the past and the indifference of the present, have left the building lost in time, behind humid leafs and hidden stairs. An old plakat indicates with an arrow the direction of the house, that emerges from the green and stands in front of us. Inside, the sound of the wood crunching under the shoes fill the emptiness of the main hall. However, the current plans of renovation are ambitious. A grant as part of the Getty Foundation’s “Keeping it Modern” programme has funded an investigation into the building’s fabric and possible future use by a research team from Yerevan, along with international experts on Soviet Modernism and architects from Helsinki’s Alvar Aalto Foundation. But for now, the picture is one: a concrete jewel on a mountain lake, still standing, still timeless.

Special thanks to Mané Tatoulian